Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Rise In Anti-Immigrant Violence In South Africa: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Historical, Economic, And Political Factors, Yaseer Bolaji Abdulfatai

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Asian American Mental Health: The Coronavirus Influence, Evangeline Faith Cheng

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Science, Mathematics and Computing of Bard College.

Lessons From Cowboys And Nature's Narratives: Symbolic Interactionism And The Cowboy's Environmental Encounter, Isabel Piper Danishmend

Senior Projects Fall 2023

This paper analyzes both the ‘myth’ of the cowboy, as well as the real life experiences of one. Through the lenses of symbolic interactionism, naturework, and myth and meaning making, this paper looks into how cowboys see themselves in relation to the land and to nature. Drawing on insights from in person interviews and analysis of historic cowboy ballads, these concepts were defined through their personal experiences that became intertwined with their culturally linked identities. For cowboys, the concepts of 'land' and 'nature' not only represent words but also constitute lived realities that profoundly shape their self-perception.

Every Screen Is A Window And A Mirror: How Social Media Strengthens Ties Within The Lgbtq+ Community, Jourdan Sadir Pérez

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Behind Closed Doors: How Remittance Flows Changed Repression Dynamics In Beneficiary States During Covid-19, Ketevan Tsurtsumia

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the global world in a lot of ways. Extensive research has been done on its effect on the economic growth of states, the effectiveness of government responses, the efficacy of different vaccines, and vaccine diplomacy. However, changes in state repression have been a neglected topic in research focused on understanding and analyzing the processes that took place during the pandemic. This paper will take on the topic of state repression dynamics during COVID-19 and further develop this relationship using remittances as an additional variable that affects state repression, taking state repression as a dependent variable. Finally, …

Maya Lavender's Senior Project In Theater And Performance (Part 3): Reflections From Playtime, Maya E. Lavender

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This project is an exploration of metatheatre in an attempt to understand and portray the feelings surrounding coming of age. Part one was A Play, performed in LUMA theater in fall of 2022. Part two was More Play, performed in the Old Gym in spring of 2023. This is part three, a reflection on my time playing.

The Liberal International Order, The Liberal Peace-Building Mission And The Role Of American Exceptionalism In It, Jamshid Mohammadi

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

On Living Fully, Or, How To Not Be Made An Object, Fiona Pearl Miller

Senior Projects Spring 2023

An analysis of autonomy in the modern era through the lens of the Transcendentalists and the Frankfurt School.

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

A Comparative Analysis Of Regional Institution Engagement And Development Trajectories In South America And Eastern Asia, Joel S. Guahnich

Senior Projects Fall 2023

This project analyzes the reasons behind South American struggles connected to regional organizations compared to Southeastern Asian economic and political development in the second half of the 20th century. When exploring the unique characteristics and historical context of South American and Eastern Asian regional blocs such as the Union of South American NationsUSAN/ Union de Naciones Suramericanas, UNASUR, Mercado Común del Sur MERCOSUR; Eastern Asian regional blocs such as The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This project seeks to understand the factors contributing to their distinct trajectories, highlighting how they have achieved …

Ontological Security And Environmental Hegemony In American Suburbs, Finlay Dunn Mackenzie

Senior Projects Fall 2023

This project briefly examines the history of suburbanization in the United States and proposes a theory for its durability as a form of housing its roles as an idealized source of ontological security and its nature as an expression of the hegemony of capital.

The Path To Development And Democracy, Does It Matter Which Comes First? Nicolas, Nicolas Soucy

Senior Projects Spring 2023

In this paper I have looked into the relationship between economic development and the type of political regime used to achieve development. Throughout my research I approach the idea that economic development is more related to the initial conditions of the state independent of the regime style in place. I have looked at states that achieved development through a democracy, states that achieved development through more of an authoritarian regime, and states that have not achieved development yet. When looking at the process of economic development the initial conditions of macroeconomic and political stability, equality of opportunity, and a collective …

The Ngo Industrial Complex And Palestinian Feminism: A Case Study, Dana A. Ghoul

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Analyzing The Effects Of Video Games On Social Anxiety And Communication, Ana S. Quigley

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Those with high levels of social anxiety can struggle with their communication skills, and confidence in communication. By using a virtual platform such as Zoom to communicate with others, individuals with social anxiety have shown decreased levels of anxiety, even noting that they prefer the virtual platform over face-to-face encounters (Yen et al., 2012). Video games can increase this level of anonymity that could be felt through zoom, by removing the ability to see the other individual’s face. This gives video games the opportunity to decrease anxiety levels while still requiring a degree of communication. Participants will be randomly sorted …

Ambivalence, Legality, And Social Activism: How Daca Survived Donald J. Trump, Pamela V. Jaramillo

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Corporate Lobbying: A Corporate Perspective To Lobbying And The Ecosystem Behind It, Noah R. Gulla

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Women’S Sexuality And The State: A Beginning Look At Virginity’S Relationship To The Law, Ariana Strieb

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This is a beginning look at the relationship the state has with women's sexuality in the United States, specifically looking at how virginity animate the way rape trials are prosecuted.

The End Of Everything: The Physical And Figurative Impacts Of Landscape On American Ideology, Wyatt Alger

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Languages and Literature of Bard College.

Reckoning With Our Binary Sex/Gender System: A Transgender Liberation From Patriarchy, Roger Bek Florey

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

The Sound Of A Sense Of Belonging: El Sistema, Ideology, And Having Fun, Michael Knox

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

An Assertion Of The Rights Of The Malësore As Indigenous Peoples In Present-Day Montenegro, Sarina Jaqueline Culaj

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Pachakutik: Tracing The Development Of The Ecuadorian Indigenous Movement As A National Actor, Antonio Pallares

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This text attempts to understand the formation of the indigenous movement in Ecuador. It asks the questions; Who makes part of it? How is it expressed? Why did it become this way? The indigenous movement in Ecuador has been described by many academics as Latin America’s strongest. Although that depends on what metric one is using, the paper explores how the movement has had interactions with a wide variety of society, and what tools has come about it that the indigenous movement has used later on. The CONAIE, the unquestionably biggest organization among indigenous organizations, has overthrown several presidents and …

A Critique On Title Ix, Marika A. Brungs

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Multidisciplinary Studies of Bard College.

More Than Mattresses: Community-Based Adaptive Management For Floating Treatment Wetlands In The North And South Twin Lakes, Masha Alex Kazantsev

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies

Financial Alcoholism: An Institutionalist Analysis Of The Repeal Of The Glass-Steagall Act And 2008 Financial Crisis, Eli C. Shapiro

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The thesis argues that the the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 was not a leading cause of the 2008 Financial Crisis but did contribute to its scope. It finds that the American economy was already on track before the repeal for a late-2000s financial crisis due to sectoral imbalances as well as the rise of money manager capitalism during the decades before the repeal. However, the repeal contributed to the "legitimization" of financial holding companies and originate-to-distribute model, spreading toxic assets around the financial sector and exposing depositors to this risk during a time of rapidly increasing banking …

The Effects Of Lgbtqia+ Representation (Or The Lack Thereof) In Sexuality Education In The United States, Marissa Faye Munsell

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The purpose of this exploratory study is to add to the understanding of how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) representation (or the lack thereof) in sexuality education programs impacts youth and adolescents’ who identify as LGBTQIA+. Sexuality education is perceived as one way to prevent unhealthy sexual behaviors and a way to give youth knowledge about their bodies. However, contemporary sexuality education in most schools in the United States is not tailored to fit the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth. According to research, in most schools this population is often left out of the curriculum entirely, where …

It's Hard To Believe There Are People There, Lily Rose Peña

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Arts of Bard College.

Mind Over Body: A Comparison Of Psychobiological Versus Physiological Focused Distance Runners, Adam Laurence Beach

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Previous research has shown that psychology can have significant effects on endurance performance. According to exercise physiologist Samuele Marcora all performance gains in endurance racing are due to a reduction of perceived effort at a given pace (Sherman, 2021). The proposed study will compare athletes focusing on reducing perceived effort at a given pace over a four month training period with athletes focused on improving physical fitness over the same period. The fitness group will complete workouts designed to maximize physiological indicators while the perceived effort groups will complete workouts designed to reduce perceived effort while running at a given …

Provisional Food Security: The Role Of Emergency Food Systems In An Evolving Landscape, Luca Walker Tagliati

Senior Projects Spring 2023

A lasting consequence of Reagan administration rollbacks in government food assistance programs is the safety net of private food provision organizations. Over the decades that these private assistance agencies grew in scope, food justice movements began sprouting up around the country that sought to address rising food insecurity and other inequities of dominant food systems. Today, private food provision organizations and food justice movements make up a large portion of emergency food systems response, forcing food insecure individuals to rely on overburdened pantries and volunteers who depend on coherent community strategy to succeed. Oftentimes, vulnerable populations are excluded from these …

Thrift : A Respelling Of Home, Penelope B. Bernal

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The first commercial thrift stores were established in the late 19th and early 20th century. Labeled as ‘charity stores’, the first thrift stores were tied to philanthropic missions, creating a bond between charity and capitalism. However, thrift stores have expanded beyond philanthropy and have evolved into community spaces. Inspired by Audre Lorde’s A Respelling of my Name, the goal of this project is to provide the reader with an intimate view of thrifting through the conversation of three main topics : As Is, One-of-a-Kind, and Community.

International Students' Experiences In A Liberal Arts College Environment: A Study Of Migration Motives, Academic And Social Integration, And Career Aspirations, Elizabeth Coromoto Liotta

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Global student flows are increasing at an unprecedented rate (Bound et al. 2021). Given the rapid diversification of the US higher education system, this study examines international students' motivations for selecting an American liberal arts college, their integration experiences in this context, and their future goals upon graduation. It highlights the uniqueness of liberal education as a pull factor, as well as the specific challenges international students face while adapting to a new social and academic structure. Conducting eighteen in-depth interviews with international juniors and seniors enrolled in a liberal arts college on the US East Coast, I discuss the …